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Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

201.1. Annual R.eport

Messagefrom the Chair

Messagefrom theExecutive Director

Throughout thill report, you will find a "laundry lillt" of projec13 we have been working

on over the last year. I do aMimiiate the process of developing our annual report to

laundry (and I do quite a bit of laundry at home with a farmer husband and three

kicU), Just like at home, we have to 10rt and organize and get things cleaned up and in

order. Thu process u not easy, but it has to be done. After our laundering proceaa, we

end up with a dazzhng pile of projec13 lcattered throughout the region that all IUpport

our milliion: "Enable the region to thrive through aMillting unita of government.»

We take our mwion seriously. Regional Development Commwiol15 were created in

legularnre to lerve and aslillt unita of government, and we want to help with their

needl. Those needs change and we need to respond to those changes.

You can lee, by looking through thill report, the diversity of projecta we do. The needs

we aaaillt with vary from jurilldiction to jurisdiction. In any given day or week, we write

gran13j provide technical lervices like mappingj review ordinances; file repor13j manage

finances for projecta and organizatiol15j adminuter IUIVeY'; develop comprehel15ive

plal15; we coordinate and facilitate meeting5; research prograffi5 and hlOding lourcel;

or find answers to questions from local, ltate or federal agenciel. Depending on what

we are working on, our expertille can be a mile wide and an inch deep or a mile deep

and an inch wide. Thu ill because we need to be as flexible as possible to respond to

the needs of our region. Often, there are new programl and new projec13 for us and we

need to learn on the job. On other occasiol15, we have a great deal of confidence and

experience to lend to the project.

That ill why I love thill job - the variety. I never know what kind of "laundry» we will

need to 50rt and organize over the coming year, but I know it u our job to get it done!

Bold Local Leadetllhip,

Increased Collaboration,

Improvd Procelll Efficiency,

Structural Chango to the statui quo.

Do~ want to do something, or do ~ want the stateto do it for us?

Our 5 county region has 3,346 square miles with apopulation of 45,190.

c..... County has 2,017 square mila with apopulation of 28,567.

Beltr:l.mi County has 2,501 square miles with apopulation of 44,442.

St.LouLa County, the largot in land area, has 6,225square mila and a population of 220,226,

The question La, how long can ~ afford all theduplicated services for an area the size of ourregion! Do ~ need, and can ~ afford, 25 countycommissioners,S sheriffs, county anornc:ya, engineetll,auditor-treasutell, data processing IJUlnagers, land andresource managetll, license bureau directors, recordetll,llOcialservice directors, vo::terana serviCc:ll officers, etc.!Maybe it's time ~ start to consolidate llOme of ourservices.

The Association of Minnc:sota Counties (AMC)REDESIGN i.a about finding bene"!" ways to provideIJUIny services for all of Minnesota through:

Than!.: You.

It has lxen a pleasure to .~ as chainnan this past'j":ar. Thank You to the Board and Staff for a IUCCOlIfuland exciting 'j":ar.

During World War II, Firt:siik OIatl woet'e famoll.!for communicating the state of our country and our~1lI in the war. It may be time that our regionhas some Fiusitk Chat.!. Our UMVRDC Region 6W~rvelI 5 coumio and 37 communitiell with the goal to

improve the quality of life within our region.

Please take the time to look ~r our annual reponand see the many projects the UMVROC is involvedin. The Meander Art Crawl is a good example of howlucceuful a project can be with communitiell workingtogether, &om Ononville to Clara City, Dawson to

Iknson, and citiell in between,

Now for some lrunning Irati,tiell that have beenbrought to my attention recently. Our UMVRDCoffice opened in Appleton and staff was hired in July,1974 - 37 'j":aTll ago, Many changa! have tmn placein the past 37 'j":aTll, one being the population of theregion:

1970 population 61,809

2010 population 45,190

Net Loss of 16,619, 27% of our population!

Fivo:: out of the top fifteen fastest declining countioin the state ~re in our region. MinnellOta gained385,000 people from 2()()().2010. Our fivo:: countyregion la.t 4,821. We havo:: t'M:I countio that are 6thand 7th in the state with the lo~ percentage ofhouseholds with people under age 18, and 20% ofourpopulation La 65 and over (the state La 12,7%).

People are on the move today, according to migrationstatLatics from the IRS, 2005-2008, Our five countyregion 1000t 1,055 persons.

Page 2 Page)

Board ofDirectors Staff

Jenifer FadnessCommunicationsPlanner Assistant

Jacki AndersonCommunity Developmem

Senior Planner

Jen RemboldtAdministrative

Assistam

Warren RauTownships

Jim SchmaedekaTownships

'"Pamela LehmannLac qui Par/eCounty fDA

Heather GieseMunicipalities

Mike TheinMunidpalities

Public Interest &Tribal Council

Swift County

Chippewa County

Juanita LauritsenWork ForceCouncil

Gary HendrickxCounty Board

Jim DahlvangCounty Board

Mark BourneTownships

Harold R. DimbergTownships

Mitch KlingTownships

Jeff OlsonMunicipalities

Angela DorenMunicipalities

Scott PetersonMunicipalities

Big Stone County

Lac 'lui Parle County

Yellow Medicine County

Harold SolemCounty Board

Gary l. JohnsonCounty Board

Brent OlsonCounty Board

School Board

Brett SuerDawson-Boyd

Kathi Thr.mianOrtonvil e

Bruce SwigerdPrairie Five CAe, Inc.

Arlene TilburyFinancialDirect.or

Kristi FernholzTourism

Senior Planner

Dawn HeglandExecutiveDireclor

Barb JordahlFinancialPlanner

Page 4 Page 5

3""

Interest/Levy/Mise$305,000

ott

EconomicDevelopment

$96,628

Total Revenue: $779,295

2011Total Revenue: $895,184

Total Expenditures: $811,110Excess Revenue: $84,074

GrantWriting

$14,000

2012

14"

2012 Proposed BudgetTotal Revenue: $779,295

Total Expenditures: $772,725Excess Revenue: $6,572

12"

GrantManagement

$103,832

TechnicalAssistance

$94,395

Transportation$55,000

FY2012508,065

50038,000

13,00020,00018,000

12,00010,000

10,0003,000

3,5002,000

4,00012,210

10,5005,000

2,00013,000

1,50011,000

2,0007,000

7,00025,000

18,45016,000

$772,725

EconomicDevelopment

$96,628

fY2011511,200

50039,000

12,00015,00025,000

17,00010,000

10,0003,000

3,50010,000

4,00012,210

15,00011,000

10,00013,500

1,00011,000

2,00010,500

8,00025,000

16,70015,000

$811,110

Tourism$110,440

Revenue

Interest/levy/Misc$253,200

GrantWriting$23,000

2."

Revenue and Expendirure Comparison, Current FY 2011 and Proposed FY 2012

Financial.

Expenses

2011

GrantManagement

$149,089

Total Revenue: $895,184

Tourism

Salaries/Fringe

Data Acqu isitionCommissioner's Expense

AuditHedge Hog GrantsComputer Technical Assistance

Contract for Services/Comm DevCopy Charge/Xerox Lease

Depreciation

Dues

InsuranceLegal Fees

Miscellaneous/Employee MoraleOffice Rent

PO<tagePrinting!Advertising

RDC MarketinglhandoutsRegistration!Training

Repairs/MaintenanceSoftware Maintenance

sub./PublicationsSupplies

TelephoneTravel/Staff

Meander Art CrawlTourism Trade Shows/Ads/Byway

TOTAL

TechnicalAssistance

$188,706

Transportation$59,650

Chippewa

ILucI

Clarkfield

Boyd

ParleDawson

Lac

$1,588,409

The amount of money invested in our regionas a result of the UMVRDCs work:

Canby

....u

5 counties,37 communities,1 triba I nation,94 townships, and10 school districts

in the Upper Minnesota River Valley

Serving the

Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

Best at...... Helping Communities Prosper

The UMVRDC's Good to Great Process Big Huge Audacious Coals "e

Grant writing

Unbiased, results-baKd solutions

Board Stewardship BHAG: Have 100% activeparticipation of the UMVRDC Board.

• ProCe!l!led 6newboard members in 2012. Completed orientationwith 2, other membel"ll are scheduled for orientation.

• Reappointed 3 public intere!lt repre!lentatives: EconomicDevelopment: Pam Lehman, Workforce: Juanita Lauritsen,Community Action Agency: Bruce Swigerd.

• UMVRDC staff coordinated 4 speaker engagement! forUMVRDC Comm~sionel"lland other intere5ted parties:

Cameron Macht, DEED Data Analy.n, shared regional selfemployment data, AUgWIt 2010;

Bill Coleman, Blandin Foundation Consultant, gave apresentation on broadband in Minne5ota, October 2010;

Mark Ne60n, MnDOT, spoke about Minnesota GoTransportation V~ion, November 2010;

Patrick \Veidemann & Shiloh Wahl, MnDOT D~trict 8& 4 Planners, d~cu5!led the Draft Area TraruportationImprovement Program, March 20l1.

• Utilized the round robin at Commwion meetings to shareinformation and current wues with other jur~dictioru.

• Continued to utilize the Planner Update to inform andeducate board membeo about the services and projects of theUMVRDG Recycled the planner update into a monthly emailbll1!lt to elected officia6 and government staff in the region.

• Surveyed board membel"ll to determine priorities for an annualboard event. Determined a board tour was the priority for 2012.The tour will occur on the July 2011 board meeting day andwill feature projects the RDC has worked on in the region.

• Surveyed Commwion membeo quarterly about the process,content and functioru of the board meetings.

• Featured 9 Commwion members in quarterly newsletters.

,.

• Agency's role is to assist, guide • Strive for excellence in work andaoo facilitate projects and productspro~.rams ~or units of government • Collaboration and cooperationIn t IS regIon

Excellent customer service • Value the region's lifestyle and all• it has to offer• Progressive thought and action Pride in the agency's abilities and•• Value all of our communities capabilities

was honored with aSouth~st Initiative

• Strong board stewardship

• Staff is accountable to and drivenby the Board and the units ofgovernment in this region

• Integrity

• Respectful. open and transparent

Tournm ProgramAward from the

UMVRDC'sCoreValues

• Prairie WateoCollaborationFoundation.

• Continue to implement activities for Prairie Wateo Tour~m

Program.

• Provided staff for the Meander Upper Minne50ta River ArtCrawl.

SHAG Accomplishments in 2011

2 cities entered into 3 or more contract! with theUMVRDC for service during FYll.

• The UMVROC a.<I.'~ted in the coordination of over 20wor6hops/trainings in the region. (Broadband Classe5, EDPro's)

• Provided staff for the Minne!lota River Valley National ScenicByway.

«A Big Huge AudacioU5 Goal (BRAG) L, action-oriented; clear (who, what, where, by when); compelling and gripping-people «get it" right

away; bold; bordering on hubr~ and the unattainable. It ~ a 10- to 30-year objective-like a big mountain to climb-that serves a3 a unifying

focal point of effort, galvanizing people and creating team spirit. It L, cr~p, compelling and ea3Y to understand."

(Good to Great, Collins, 2001)

• Marketing BHAG: All local units of government (LUGs)in Region 6W will know who we are and what we do.

• Introduced new ROC website that reflects our currentbranding. Site ~ continually being updated and W1ed as a toolfor cons~tent, timely communication with LUGs.

• Continued to make all marketing effort! com~tentwith ROCbranding.

• Created new marketing packet! that highlightvarioWl progranuand serviCe!! areas, while featuring specific project examples.

• Sent at least 40 email blasts and at least 15 pre!l!l releases.

,. Community Development BHAG: Be the premieragency for community development in Region 6W.

• The UMVRDC had a total of 21 contracts for service with 7different citie!l and 1 county for different types of planning,technicall1!ls~tanceand grant writing.

3 cities and 1 county entered into more than 1 contractwith the UMVRDG

What Are We DeeplyPassionate About?

The rural quality of life

Helping communities not only survi"". but

""","'Making the region a great place to live, workand play

Assisting local units ofg<l'V'etflrnet\t to addressissuC5 such as planning, zoning, technology,transportation. d.",.,lopment. and tourism

Acting as liaisons with local/state/fedenolagencies

Implementing complicated projecl5

Learning from the past and applying in thepresent to prep"re for the furure

Desire to produce quality product

Solutions that fit region·s real needsand way o£life

Oetting results

Superior service

Solutions consistent with thevalues in Region 6W.

Finding fumh for projects

Blending loca1 and technical know-how

Knowing our region and having a ".,.tedimerest in it

Working with multiple jurisdictions

Managing time consuming projecl5 thatrequire good planning and bridging

~"=

we are pall!lionate about, what we can be best at, and what drives

our re50urce engtne.

In 2010 the UMVRDC reviewed our strategic plan using Good

to Great as a framework. Based on these ideas, we developed thethree Hedgehog Concepts and our BRAGs (Big Huge AudacioU5

Goals) shown on these pages.

Enable the region tothrive through assisting

local units of-government.

What Can WeBe Best At!

Matching local needs with information andfunding to accomplish projects.

Responding to community/regional needs

Connecting communities with redmica1and financial resources

Subject matter experts on planning.economic devdopment, tourism, hazardmitigation, etc.

Management ofgrants/programs

Navigating state and fedenol regulationsby acting as liaison

Using our wide range of experience andne!'M>rks to fm<! solutions

Knowing our communitiesand their leaden

What Drives OurResource Engine?

Excellent results at areasonable price.

The HedgehogConceptThe Hedgehog Concept ill anoperating model that reflectsa deep undel'lltanding of threeintel'llecting circles:

1) what you can be thebest in the world at,

2) what you are deeplypallsionate about, and

3) what best driVl:s youreconomic or rCllourceengine.

Providing aceUent service atreasonable cost

Successfully completing projeeu withtangible results

Responsi"". knowledgeable service

Talented staff with a wide rangeof experti5e

Loca1 contTacrs

Our strategic plan ~ ba3ed on Jim Colliru' book Good to Great. \Ve

have spent the ll1!lt five yeal"ll focusing on moving our organization

from good to great by examining our organizational values, what

The UMVRDC continues to implement our Good to Great

strategic planning process that ~ defining the future for the agency.

The goal ofth~ plan ~ to position the UMVRDC to best meet the

needs of the local unit! of govelTlment it was created to serve.

Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

Best at...... Helping Communities Prosper

7

CommittedRLF $:

$100,000

Available forLl.'flding$2ln,H7

1M RLF 'IWTkd wilh """""'"Dm:i.:! Rot" (b.,1ow) 10 reopmMadison MMa.

Bmd Handdand (hft)rtaiwd RLF funds 10purma.e equipmrnl fo"rhis new chiropmelicoffia in Oarkjidd.

In addition to RLF funds, another $547,100 wall

leveraged in public and private funding creatinga total of$667,300 ofinvestmentforthese threeprojects.

Ai's Mercantile in Dawson received $50,000 toassist with the purchase of the hardware store.

Handeland Chiropractic in Clarkfield received$33,000 for equipment and fixed assets to helpestablillh a new chiropractic office.

fu a result of these three loans, 13 jobs areexpected to be created and retained within thefirst 24 months.

UMVRDCRevolving Loan Fund

The UMVRDC Revolving Loan Fund (RDCRLF) assillts with financing for business start­ups, expansions, and retention projects needingworking capital, fixed assets and real estate. A totalof $120,200 in revolving loan funds were lent tothree busine&!les.

Madison Meats received $37,200 for equipmentand working capital to assist with the reopeningof the local meat market.

Browns Valley Flood Recovery

Outing this fiscal year the City of GraniteFalls received an additional $1,440,445.00from the Minnesota Department of NaturalResources.

Barb continues to provide technical supportand serve as fi&Cal agent to the City ofBrowns Valley in their flood recovery efforts.Browns Valley has utilized over $7.9 millionfrom local, state and federal funding sourcesfor housing assistance, city repairs, and adiverllion project.

Granite Falls Flood Remvery

The Levee Improvement and Dike RoadRepairll Projects were completed this year.In all, over 200 residential and commercialproperties will be protected by the levee thatwas raised, and the repain done on the dikeroad will provide additional er03ion controlduring flood events. Work continues on thePrentice Stteet Project that provides floodprotection for the residents on this stteet.

Since the floodsof1997 and 2001, UMVRDCnaff have worked with the City of GraniteFalls in their flood recovery efforts utilizingover $16.8 million from state and federalfunding sources.

Lornl Demonstration Projects FundedThrough MIRC

Dawson-Boyd Schools, $25,000: Creation ofa Multimedia Collaborntion Center, a StudentTech Team, and a hybrid (online and classroom)Teacher/Community Trnining Academy.

Lac qui Parle County Economic DevelopmemAuthority, $25,000: Funding for the LqPComputer Commuter.

Big Stone County Public Intenlet Project,$6,554: Provide more convenient public accallto government information.

Ortonville Public Schools &. OrtonvilleEconomic ~Iopment Authority, $10,000:Assist busineMes in developing websites andonline information.

Johnson Memorial Health Service!i, Dawson,$15,000: Using computerized technology totrack and monitor conditiofUI of 6 patients.

UpperMinnesotaValleyRegionalDevelopmentCommission, $4,40S: Create websites for thecities of Bellingham and Echo.

MiRe gmm =ipirnu pre.mted suu... reports to!he MIRe SlUIing Comminu in May 2011.

Knowledge Worker Classes

Working with Minnesota LearningCommons, the Knowledge Workercoune will provide online insttucrionfor knowledge-based occupations.The class will teach career pathwaYll,technology in the workplace, andinnovation, as well as problemsolving, critical thinking, importanceof networking relationships, andentrepreneunhip.

Three clasll sessions are going to beheld in our region in Ortonvillesponsored by the Ortonville EDA,Mn\VEST Community TechnicalCollege Canby and the MontevideoWorkforce Center.

Small Cities DevelopmentProgram (SCDP) GrantIvt:anagement

UMVRDC staff are experts in the fi&Caladminilltration and technical reportingobligations of grants like the Small CitiesDevelopment Program. Below is a list ofcommunities we are assisting in the fi&Caladminilltration of their grants:

• NEWI Benson - $172,400 for therehabilitation of 8 homell.

• Benson - $487,321 for rehabilitation of17 homes and 5 commercial properties

• Appleton - $564,750 for rehabilitationof 15 homes and 10 commercialproperties.

• Clarkfield/Grnnite Falls - $573,288for rehabilitation of 22 homes, 4 rentalproperties, and 1 commercial property.

Grant Management

Digital Uteracy Classes

The Southwest Minnesota Workforce Centerand Adult Basic Education (ABE) received$49,500 for Digital Literacy online curriculuminstruction. Trnining counes will teach thefollowing skills:

• Using a computer, mOUlle, touchpad andkeyboard;

• Develop a resume, do an online job &earch,apply for jobs online;

• Prepare for employment (career goals,interests and abilities, possible jobs, etc.);

• Perform basic computer tasb on the job;

• Undentand basic online searches and basicintetTlet safety;

• Evaluate sources and resources;

• How to communicate electtonically.

Shared Services Grant

Michelle authored a Shared Services GrnntApplication on behalf of Benson, Clontarf,Danverll, and DeGraff. They were awarded$25,000 from the State Fire Marshal's Officeto complete a shared fire and rescue seIVicesstudy for the four cities. A local taskforce willbe used to assist with the following elementsof the study:

• Benchmarking existing fire &eIVices byexamining staffing, budget, technology,political environments and facilities.

• Determining if shared services make sensefrom seIVice level, political, technologicaland financing perllpectives.

• Making recommendatioilll for sharedoperational models, govetTlance, funding,staffing, technology and facilities.

The study is expected to be complete by theend of 2011.

l'Q fo"r Prop!.. Sulffdtli.~ compul.... to !heROC o~. 'These 25compult'r.l wm: distributed1""",,"""1 1M region.

PCS for People & Atomic Leanling

The UMVRDC worked with county HumanSeIVice agencies to disttibute 25 refurbishedcomputen from the non-profit PCS for Peopleto low income individuals in the region. Theserecipients also are receiving a free one year

subscription to AtomicLeatTling that provides anendleM array of teachingmodules for computer andinternet literacy.

The UMVRDC received $2,000 to createa public art plan for Region 6W. Kristiwill gather a team of people who have aninterest in public art in our region. Forecaststaff will assist by researching other regionalpublic art plans in areas similar to ours. Thisresearch will also outline the benefits for ourcommunities and the economic impact ofpublic art. Two planning meetings will beheld with the local team to help complete aregional public art plan.

This grant is in collaborntion with theSouthwest Arts and Humanities Council,supported with funds provided by theMinnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fundas appropriated by the Minnesota StateLegislature with money from the vote of thepeople of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Forecast Grant

Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Grant Writing

Jacki and Michelle authored a short-form application for the City of Benson to rehabilitate eighthomes, continuing the work from a prior grant to rehabilitate 17 homes. The Department ofEmployment and Economic Development (DEED) approved the grant application in June foradditional homes and work will begin late summer 2011 on the rehabilitation projeetll.

Broadband Classes for Businesses

The University of Minnesota Extenllionis encouraging local businesses to use theInternet to reach new customers, sell moreproducts and services, and stay connected withtheir existing customers. They are hosting 21free classes to teach internet basedtechnology between Ortonville,Montevideo, Clara City, Dawson,Madison, Appleton and Benson.The classes are:

• Doing Business Online

• Google Tools

• Using Social Media in Business

• Roadside Advertising in aDigital Age

• Marketing Your Website

At the end of 2010, UMVRDC staff began work on part of a successful 2 year $4.7 million federnl Broadband Technology Opporrnnities Program(BTOP) grant awarded to the Blandin Foundation. The UMVRDC region was selected as one of 11 demonlltration communities in the state todevelop projects and strategies to increase broadband utilization in the region. The project - called Minnesota Intelligent Rurnl Communities(MIRC) - emphasizes broadband education, ttaining, technical assistance and barrier removal. The project has numerous components that beganimplementation over the last year.

• _us

City Websites Grant

City of Dawson

Jacki aMilIted the City of Dawson with grantwriting seIVices that helped secure $500,()(X)from the Department of Employmentand Economic Development's Busine&!lDevelopment Public Infrastructure (BDPOprogram for improvements in their industrialpark to aMilIt expanding busine&!les. Fundswould be used for road, curb & gutterimprovements and would support a new pre­treatment plant needed for new and expandingbusineM in Dawson's industrial park.

Special Regional Project: Broadband

Grant Writing

The Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities(MIRC) Program offered grants to promote theuse of broadband technology, so Kristi appliedfor funds to create websites for the smallestcities in Region 6W. Of the 19 of our 37 citieswho do not currendy have city websites, two

communities stepped forward to be includedin the grant. Echo and Bellingham will beworking with Kristi and Jenifer to create theircommunity websites. The grant will pay forstart up expenses such as design, contentdevelopment, and photos, while the cities wiltpay for ongoing expenses.

Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

Best at...... Helping Communities Prosper

Technical Assistance Transportation

Key Economic Findings ofNewcomers in Region 6W:

• 46% reported household incomes of$75,000 or greater in 2009.

• Total hOllllChold incomes of $3.7mnIion in 2009.

• Due to the spending of this income,an additional $1.7 million ineconomic output wall created in thefive-county region in 2009.

• This included 16 additional jobsand $433,000 in labor income. Inother words, for every 3 "newcomer"hOUllCholds, 1 =lsting household,on average, received $27,000 in newincome.

• Creation of $132,000 in state andlocal tax collecti01lll in 2009.

fu a result of Congress palllling the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,Efficient, Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA - LU) in Augun of2005, grantees under the New Freedom Initiative (53117), Job Accelllland Revel1le Commute (JARC - 5316) and Elderly and DisableTransportation Program (5310) must meet certain requirements inorder to receive funding. These programs are required to be partof a "locally developed coordinated public transit-human servicetransportation plan". MnDOT contracted with the UMVRDCto complete an update of the 2006 tra1lllit coordination plan wecompleted.

The goal of the 2011 Local Human Service Transit CoordinationPlan is to identifY the tra1lllportation needs of individuals withdisabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes; providestrategies for meeting those needs; and prioritize transportationservices for funding and implementation in the region.

Michelle and Davm have been working through the planning procellllwith a local steering committee that ovcl1lees the developmentof the plan. Public input wall gathered to date through a tra1lllitprovider questionnaire and a public workshop to identifY strategiesfor addrelllling the transit needs in the region. A summary of theidentified strategies is available on the UMVRDC website underthe "take note" section on the bottom of the home page. Later thissummer the UMVRDC will post on our website a draft versionof the full plan for public comment. This plan will integrate thestrategies for the region and provide background and a frameworkfor coordinated transit in the region.

Upper Minnesota Valley Local Public Transit·Human Service Coordination Plan

• An analysis of the online presence ofblillinelllles in all 37 cities in the region.

• A report called "Regional Recruitment:Strategies to Attract and RetainNewcomers" that can be found on theUMVRDC website.

Our regional team has been fortunateto receive support and allllinance fromthe University of Minnesota including:Extension, Crookston EDA Center,Morris Center for Small Tovms Studentsin Service Intern, Center for Urban andRegional Affail1l Community fusistanceProgram Intern.

• An economic impacr analysis ofnewcomel1l based on data collected formsurveys and focus groups.

• An analysis of where the highestconcentration of potential new residentsexists in Minnesota.

Special Regional Project: Regional RecruitmentFor the Ian 2 years Davm and Jacki havefacilitated a group of regional economicdevelopment professionals looking fornrategies to attract and retain higher skill,higher wage demographics in the region.Research has shown that those in the agerange of 35-45 years are seeking out rurallifestyles.

The topic of their meetings has beencoined "Regional Recruitment~ and theproject includes three phases: educationand research, mobilization of resources,and implementation and marketing.

Work completed to date includes:

• FoCUll groups with new residents in theregion to understand influential factol1lin their decision to move to our region.

• A mailsu~y wall done to ask additionalnew residents about their influentialfactors.

Michelle participated in ATP 4 and ATP 8 meetings to review andrank applications for 2015 federal funds for roads, bridges, trails,public transit, and railroad crollllings. The total investment in Region6W for 2012-2015 is $12,020,716 in federal funds.

Transportation Planning

The UMVRDC continues to provide local transportation planningallllistance to the region through a contract with the MN Departmentof Transportation. Transportation ilIlIues continue to be criticalilIlIues for our region. We rely heavily on the existing transportationsystem to get to work, school, medical appointments, vacation, andto get commodities into and out of the region. The UMVRDCwould like to alIlIist the local units of government to ensure its peopleand businelllles of this region are adequately served by all modes oftransportation.

•Graceville, MN

Katie also updatedtheir Zoning Map tocomplement the newZoning Ordinance.The Zoning Map willbe available to thegeneral public on theSwift County website, in addition to

show increlllled detail of zoning

-=- -=--...=-­..---=-----:'::-,-

SWIFT COUNTY ZONING_'"COY""'. "'O<NUOT"

Graceville Website

The city of Graceville has anew prellCnce on the internet!They contracted with theUMVRDC to set up aGovOffice website for theircommunity, and it went live inNovember 2010. Ktisti workedwith the Graceville city clerkto determine what should beincluded, gather content, takeadditional photos, and createa custom design. The websitefeatures many phot03 from inand around their community.

Swift County Zoning Update

Upper SiOlL"i: Comnumity Energy Plan

The Upper Sioux Community has contracted with the UMVRDCto complete a long range energy plan that is expected to be finishedthis fall. The energy plan initiated a panel dillcullllion on renewableenergy sources such as wind, solar, biomallll and geothermal. Theprocellll also incorporates energy audits and data collected by theUpper Sioux Community staff about existing energy ullage on therellCrvation. This fall, as part of the long range plan developmentprocellll, strategies and ben practices for energy efficiency will beidentified and co1lllidered for implementation. This energy plan willbe the fil1lt ofits kind in our region and we look forward to continuingto work with the Upper Sioux Community and completing theirlong range energy plan.

township-specific zoning maps todistricts.

This project is an extension of Swift County's Comprehensive Plan,which wall created in collaboration with the UMVRDC in 2007.

Swift County contracted with the UMVRDC to update their currentZoning Ordinance and streamline all additional county ordinancesinto a Code ofOrdinances. This project included reviewofFloodplainManagement, Shoreland Maintenance and Protection, and fiveseparate land UllC regulation ordinances, which now make up acomprehe1lllive Zoning and Land Regulation Ordinance. Additional

ordinances includean updated ParkOrdinance and Mini­Truck Ordinance.

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Granite FallsStrategic Planning

Clara City Comprehensive Plan

The Granite Falls EconomicDevelopment Authority(EDA) contracted withthe UMVRDC to lllIsistwith strategic planning forcommunity projects. Jackiand Michelle facilitateda narrnp meeting withGranite Falls EDA,Granite Falls RiverfrontRevitalization group,and other interestedorganizations and citizens.Together, they identifiedcommunity projects andpotential resources forimplementation. A total of

68 ideas were gathered and prioritized. RDC naff helped identifYpotential funding sources for the top ten projects in the final reportprepared for the Granite Falls EDA. The community already hadgreat ideas; the goal of the strategic planning process was to givethe community some focus and outline the next neps to bringtheir ideas closer to implementation.

Krini is working with Clara City to create their fil1lt comprehensiveplan 110 the city can make informed decisions to guide the future.Kristi andJacki are working with the Clara City planning commillllionto research, gather public input and write the plan.

The plan will include a community profile, chaptel1l on landUllC, housing, parks and recreation, economic development,transportation and public utilities/facilities, and a llCction onimplementation with goals and action plans. In order to gatherinformation from the public, Clara City has decided to develop acity-wide su~y to be distributed this summer and will incorporatethe results into the plan.

County Hazard Mitigation Plans

Katie and Jacki completed All-Hazard Mitigation Plan updatesfor Big Stone, Chippewa, and Yellow Medicine Counties and theUpper Sioux Community. The Federal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) deemed the plan updates "excellent." Swift andLac qui Parle Counties will be finishing their updates in the fallof 2011.

The All-Hazard Mitigation Plan challenges our counties and citiesto determine the likeliness of disastel1l, refine strategies to mitigatepotential disasters, and look at the cons of disastel1l. These plansare now ready to be used as a resource to support requests to theMinnesota Department of Homeland Security and EmergencyManagement (HSEM) and FEMA for mitigation planning andassistance. All finished plans can be found on the UMVRDCwebsite at www.umvrdc.org.

Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

Best at...... Helping Communities Prosper

Ma!rn.a Handem(kJd dis<.-u=s ht:ran in rM r.oo...Tooth amgirlSaloon, w galleryon ht:r farm nearMilan.

An an·filW:!dist>/ay (below) art"" horne of DobOmnoli)"nttlrJ),.~.

Meander 2011is September 30,October 1 & 2!

19% metraare"

866.866.5432

29% greaterMinnesota

5112.00Meander art

201 0 Meander Economic Impacts

KrL,ti and jenifer helped coordinate planning, manage

finances, and develop and implement marketing for the

7th annual Meander in October 2010. Forty-five local

artL,ts participated.

artsmeander.com

$19.78lodging

$39.67food

• $69,395.00 in Meander art sales W<l!I reported byartL,ts during the Meander weekend, an increase

of 4% from the pra.ious yeaT.

• 83% of the money raL,ed to organize the Meanderthrough sponsors and artists W<l!I spent on products

or services (printing, paper, advertL,ing, graphic

design, staffing:) in the five county area.

• CWltomers visited an average of 11 studios over the weekend.

• 79% of customers said the quality of the art was excellent.

• 78% of customers said their overall experience W<l!I excellent.

13% outof ,tate

• 80% of cWltomers said they plan to attend the next Meander.

~Fl"'........ Facebook

Average Expendituresper Customer: $180.67

Where AttendeesCame From

• The average art sales per artL,t W<l!I $1,652.

39% within5-<:mmty

area

59.220"",'

,hopping

w::I Finduson.. Foeebook

Outdoor adventure,for the whole fomilyl

Wildlik, Birding,l=isning,Paddling, Trails, Camping,I=rH OHV Park,l=..tival.,LCH;al Art,l..Hotaril;Cll Sit••,

MUllflum., & 10 much mont••

www.prairiewaters.com866.866.5432

Meander Art Crawl

1·866·866·5432www.PrairieWaten.um

www.mnrivervalley.com888.463.9856

The other tour W<l!I held in june 2011and started at the New Ulm library andtoured Fort Ridgely, the Lower SiouxAgency, Redwood Falls and Morgan.

• Hosted two familiarization tours. InSeptember 2010, over 20 people touredin and around Redwood Falls, includingAlexander Ramsey Park and GilfillanEstates near Morgan.

road sigilli along

updated the Prairie

Received a Schmidt Foundation grantto continue the U.S.-Dakota Warinterpretive project and additionalinterpretion along the Minnesota River.

Submitted one application for federalByway hl1lding to update and enhancethe corridor management plan.

• Received over 3,000 requestsinformation in 2010 and 1,400 infirst half of 2011.

• Wrote a successful grant to ExploreMinnesota TourL,m procuring more than$10,000 for advertL,ing in our region.

• Honed a free wine tasting at HinterlandVineyards near Clara City for ourAnnual Gathering. The event W<l!I a greatsucces with approximately 80 people inattendance.

• Created and placed numerous ads in ourregional papers, statewide, and in out-of­state publicatioilll such as Midwest Living,MA, and South Dakota Magazine.

• Maintained andWaters website.

• Updated aging bywaythe byway.

•

I

Vuil OUT_brice or call ourtoU·fiu nurnb..r to ""1uesl oneofour FREE Vui1Ol> Guided

n.e.e are lU<l of the 1m infDPretiw .igIu char wiU k plaad along the byway 10 <wist""""l.m with infDPreting hi.toric .iu. from t"" U.S.-Dakota War of 1861.

By late summer, the byway plailll to havethe new signs iillltalled at the followinglocatioilll: Camp Release in Montevideo,Renville County Park *2, Henderson,Milford Monument (near New Ulm) andNewUlm.

• Continued to promote the area andhighlight events on our Facebook Fanpage. We currently have over 600 famthat we market to with weekly updates.

• Re-designed the Prairie Waters RegionalVL,itors Guide. ThL, hlll color, glossy

publication L, the premiervisitors guide for ourregion with 25,000 copiesprinted and distributedthroughout the nateand mailed to those whorequest information.

Other highlights from the past year include:

• Received funding from the MinnesotaHL,torical Society HL,torical and CulturalGrant Funds made pOll.'lible throughthe Clean Water, Land and LegacyAmendment for 10 interpretive slgmabout the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862along the Minnesota River Valley.

sa as

Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway

•

Western Minnesota Prairie Waters Regional Tourism

DL,tributed our BywayGuides to Byway businessesand attractio~, at theMall of America, TravelInformation Centers on thestate's southern borders,as well all fulfilling visitorrequests.

Projects include:

The 287-mile Minnesota River ValleyNational Scenic Byway Alliance L, a groupof committed individuals representing avariety of interests including Chambersof Commerce, various attractio~ andhL,toric sites, State Parb, local and nategovernmental bodies, privatebusinesses, and concernedindividuals. UM\TRDC hasbeen providing staffing andfL,cal services to the Bywaysince 1996.

In May 2010, Prairie Waters receivedthe Southwen Initiative Foundation's(SWIF) Collaboration Award.The award was a great honor,and included invitatio~ tothe S\VIF Best of SouthwestMinnesota 25th AnniversaryBanquet, a handcrafted vase bypotter Bill Gossman, and a grantof $1,000. Kristi and jeniferaccepted the award on behalf ofPrairie Waters.

«The purpose of theAlliance L, to encourage

economic developmentthrough the promotion,

preservation and protection of the intri~ic

qualities of the Minnesota River Valley."

WmtRNMINNESOTA

PtAlII( WATnS The million of WesternMinnesota Prairie WatersL, to promote our area as a

great place to visit, live and work, and naffhas continued to seek out projects thataccomplL,h that mL,sion.

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4

Upper Minnesota Valley

REGIONALDEVElOPMENTCOMMISSION

H P n C ., lun Ie Prosper

323 w. Schlieman Ave. Appleton, MN 56208

320-289-1981 (phone) 320-289-1983 (fax)

www.umvrdc.org

FactThe geese flying in formation honk toencourage those up front to keep uptheir speed.

Lesson

PRSTSTDus POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 63

APPLETON. MN

In groups where there is encouragement,the production is much greater. The powerof encouragement - to stand by one'sheart or core values and encourage theheart and core of others - is the quality of"'honking we seek.